How to Kill a Whitefly on Basil Plants Without Killing the Plant

Basil plants are susceptible to aphids, Japanese beetles, and whiteflies.

The basil plant (Ocimum basilicum) is a cousin to mint plants. It is commonly used to create sauces and add flavoring to various Italian and Thai dishes. If you like to cook, you can grow your own basil at home. Unfortunately, basil plants are often attacked by pests like the whitefly, which can be found under leaves, sucking out plant juices until the leaves yellow and dry out. To harvest healthy basil for your recipes, you need to kill any whiteflies that attempt to infest your plant.

1

Vacuum the whitefly up into a small vacuum if you happen to spot it first thing in the morning when it is less active. Dump the whitefly from the vacuum into a plastic zipper bag and freeze it for a full day to kill it before disposing of it in an outdoor trash can.

2

Spray the whitefly with insecticidal soap. You can use a store-bought insecticidal soap, or you can make your own with 1 tablespoon of dish soap per quart of water. According to the Iowa State University Extension website, insecticidal soap removes the protective outer coating on the whitefly. As a result, the insect's membrane functions won't work properly.

3

Erect a whitefly trap, also known as a yellow sticky trap, in your basil plant. Whitefly traps come on a stake that you can easily press down into the soil next to your basil plant. Insecticidal soap is great, but for the plant's health it shouldn't be used often. You can catch any future whiteflies with the whitefly trap, which is readily available in most nurseries and garden centers. Once you fill the trap with whiteflies, set the trap in a plastic zip-close bag and toss it in an outdoor trash can.

Things You Will Need

Small vacuum

Plastic zip-close bag

Insecticidal soap

Whitefly trap

Tip

Check your basil plant each day to make sure no new whiteflies have located the plant.

Warning

To maintain a healthy, edible basil plant, chemicals should be used as a last resort. If you have a large whitefly infestation, use an all-natural neem- or pyrethrin-based insecticide.

About the Author

Alicia Bodine has been a professional writer for six years. She has produced thousands of articles for online publications such as Demand Studios, Bright Hub, Associated Content and WiseGeek. Bodine is also the current cooking guru for LifeTips. She has received awards for being a top content producer.